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Channing Tatum Set To Quit X-Men Spinoff Gambit

Reports are flying that Channing Tatum is going to leave the X-Men spinoff Gambit.

Tatum appeared alongside the X-Men cast as little as two weeks ago, posting an image of the combined universes of X-Men and the Fantastic Four with the caption #auniverseunited in supposed support for the work he is doing with the spinoff.

However, according to The Wrap, the 21 Jump Street actor’s deal with 20th Century Fox “is in jeopardy of falling apart,” following Tatum’s supposed desire to move into directing and away from acting, yet it is not clear what the actor’s departure would mean for his producing partner Reid Carolin.

The comic book movie is only just getting off the ground, with casting still underway for the main cast which allegedly includes Spectre‘s Léa Seydoux, who is said to be testing for the female lead. The blockbuster is supposed to go into production this October with a hefty $154 million budget, however, this could be postponed if the Magic Mike frontman is to walk.

Tatum is due to take on the titular, smooth talking character who Taylor Kitsch originally played in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

The studios have alleged that this new version of Gambit will eventually join the main X-Men movies someway down the road. Similarly, there has been talk of a further cross over between X-Men and the Fantastic Four, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to reprise the role further down the line if Channing was to stay involved.

The X-Men spinoff will be directed by Rupert Wyatt and is due to be released in cinemas on October 7, 2016.